Mouthpiece and filtering system

ABSTRACT

A replaceable mouthpiece and filter system for a gas supply means that includes a replaceable mouthpiece connected to an input means and an output means, and a filtering device connected to the output means for filtering exiting gases. The replaceable mouthpiece includes an input channel and an output channel. The replaceable mouthpiece includes that portion of the system which is common to entering and exiting gases. The filtering means removes radioactive gas from exhaled air, preventing contamination of the environment.

United States Patent Blum 1 1 Mar. 27, 1973 541 MOUTHPIECE AND FILTERING 2,301,529 11 1942 Fagan ..55/269 SYSTEM 3,083,707 4/1963 Seeler .128/147 X 3,326,212 6/1967 Phillips ..l28/l47 [75] Inventor: Alvin S. Blum, Coral Gables, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Ohio Nuclear, lnc., Mentor, Ohio Primary EXami"erRlchaTd Gaudet Assistant ExaminerG. F. Dunne [22] Flled: 1969 Attorney-David B. Deioma [21] Appl. No.: 804,873

[57] ABSTRACT 52 U.S. c1 ..128/147, 55/269 A replaceable mUFhPieCe and filter System for alias supply means that 1ncludes a replaceable mouthp1ece [51] Int. Cl. ..A6lb 6/10 t d t t d t t [58] Field of Search ..128/147, 201, 207, 1.1, 1.2, means means and a filtering dev1ce connected to the output means 128/145,184,185,186,142.6,188, 208; l

55/269 250/106 43 5 R for filtermg ex1t1ng gases. The rep aceable mouthp1ece includes an input channel and an output channel. The replaceable mouthpiece includes that portion of the [56] References Cited system which is common to entering and exiting gases.

UNITED STATES PATENTS The filtering means removes radioactive gas from exhaled a1r, preventing contammation of the environ- 2,841,142 7/1858 Hay ..12s 1ss ment 2,891,542 6/1959 Pentecost ....l28/l88 999,451 8/1911 Holleman 128/147 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures [4 L as PATENTEnmRzvms INVENTOR.

A LV IN 5. 5 Lu M ATTURNEY MOUTHPIECE AND FILTERING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new and improved replaceable mouthpiece and filtering system, and, more particularly, to a generally F-shaped or T-shaped replaceable mouthpiece and a filtering device including a central refrigeration cavity. The replaceable mouthpiece includes an input channel and an output channel. The replaceable mouthpiece includes that portion of the system which is common to entering and exiting gases. The mouthpiece prevents gases from a previous user of the equipment that supplies gas, from entering the present users lungs. The filter directs exiting gases about an outer undulating path around the refrigeration cavity. The path includes compartments that hold material to provide pollution control and means for collecting certain gases.

As is perhaps well-known, many systems require costly procedures and devices to protect users from rebreathing gases from previous users in order to prevent diseases from spreading from one user to another. In the past, the devices have been complex in design and require many man hours to sterilize, so that the problem is often ignored, resulting in the spread of disease through use of these instruments.

It is an object of this invention to provide a non-complex replaceable mouthpiece and filtering system.

It is another object of this invention to provide a throwaway mouthpiece that protects an user from rebreathing air from the system that has been previously used by another.

It is another object of this invention to provide a replaceable mouthpiece that prevents contamination of the gas supplying device.

It is another object of this invention to provide a replaceable mouthpiece that prevents mixing of gases from a previous user with the gases inhaled into the lungs of the present user.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compact filtering device for removing radioactive gas from a test subjects exhalations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a filtering device for removing radioactive xenon gas from exhaust gases so that the exhaust gas can be discarded without environmental spread of the gas.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an efficient filtering device.

In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the replaceable mouthpiece and filtering system; and

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the filtering device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein an embodiment of this invention is shown, and referring, particularly, to FIG. 1, the replaceable mouthpiece is generally designated as numeral 2, and the filtering means is generally designated as numeral 4. The mouthpiece 2, which may be T-shaped or F-shaped as illustrated, includes a mouth gripping portion 6 with a main body 8 and input arm 10 and an output arm 12. One way input valve 14 is connected by a resilient member 16 to the end of the input tube 18. The distal end of the input tube 18 is enclosed in a connecting member 20 having a mouthpiece arm connecting portion 22 at one end thereof. The filtering means includes a filter device 30 and an output tube 32 with one way valve 34 connected to the output tube 32 by a resilient member 36. The output connecting member 38 surrounds the valve and connects the valve system to the filter device 30 by a tube 40.

When a person exhales into mouthpiece 2 through the opening at 6, the exhaled gas will not enter connecting member 20 or connecting portion 22 because of the physical construction of the mouthpiece. The distance from output tube 32 to the gripping portion 6 is such that gases in output tube 32 from a previous patient will not exit through gripping portion 6.

Referring now to FIG. 2 showing a cutaway perspective view of the filter device 30 including an outer cylindrical shell 42 surrounding a centrally spaced inner cylindrical shell 44. The inner cylindrical shell has a bottom 46 and a removable flap member 48. Refrigerating means, such as dry ice, or other materials, or mechanical refrigerating means may be placed into the inner cylindrical shell 44 for cooling the exhaust gas from the mouthpiece. The inner and outer shell may have other shapes, such as, square or rectangular shells.

The connecting input tube 40 is shown supplying gas to one chamber 50 between the inner cylindrical shell 44 and the outer cylindrical shell 42. The gas passes down through tube 40 into chamber 50 and downwardly through the filtering material placed in chamber 50. The material placed in chamber 50 collects moisture and carbon dioxide from the exiting gases. The gases pass downwardly under vertical plate 52 and up through the chamber 54. Vertical plate 52 may include a rolled bottom edge. The gases pass up through screen 56, as illustrated. Charcoal may be placed on top of the screen. The material placed in chamber 54 removes the xenon gas from the exiting gases. The gases then pass over the top of the plate 56 into chamber 58. Chamber 58 may hold material to further reduce the radioactive xenon gas from the exiting gases. The filter device provides a rather long path about the cooling chamber in order to cool the exiting gases to collect the radioactive xenon gas. Prior removal of carbon dioxide and/or water vapor in the first chamber reserves the absorptive capacity of the later chambers for absorption of the xenon. The last chamber, not shown, may contain absorbent material to protect the charcoal from back flow moisture and carbon dioxide. Back flow may enter the exit tube of the filter.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the instant invention is not to be limited to the details discussed herein but to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

What is claimed is:

l. A mouthpiece and filter assembly for use in connection with a radioactive gas inhalation system comprising:

An elongated conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end being open and adapted to enter the mouth of the user, said second end being adapted to exhaust gases from the conduit;

A check valve assembly in fluid communication with said second end operative to allow gases to leave the conduit but not enter the conduit, an inlet opening along the length of the conduit intermediate said first end and said second end, a branch conduit extending from said inlet opening and adapted to provide fluid communication between a source of gas and the interior of the elongated conduit; and

A check valve assembly in the last said opening operative to allow gas to enter the conduit but not leave the conduit, the distance between the first end and the intermediate gas inlet opening and the distance between the second end and the intermediate gas inlet opening being selected so that exhaled gases from a first user will not be inhaled by a second user; and

A filter system for receiving the exhaled gases, the filter system including a means for removing radioactive susbstance from the exhaled gases,

The filter system further including a means for removing carbon dioxide and water upstream from material to remove the radioactive substances, said means for removing the water being arranged in a central cooling chamber about which the gases pass. 

1. A mouthpiece and filter assembly for use in connection with a radioactive gas inhalation system comprising: An elongated conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end being open and adapted to enter the mouth of the user, said second end being adapted to exhaust gases from the conduit; A check valve assembly in fluid communication with said second end operative to allow gases to leave the conduit but not enter the conduit, an inlet opening along the length of the conduit intermediAte said first end and said second end, a branch conduit extending from said inlet opening and adapted to provide fluid communication between a source of gas and the interior of the elongated conduit; and A check valve assembly in the last said opening operative to allow gas to enter the conduit but not leave the conduit, the distance between the first end and the intermediate gas inlet opening and the distance between the second end and the intermediate gas inlet opening being selected so that exhaled gases from a first user will not be inhaled by a second user; and A filter system for receiving the exhaled gases, the filter system including a means for removing radioactive susbstance from the exhaled gases, The filter system further including a means for removing carbon dioxide and water upstream from material to remove the radioactive substances, said means for removing the water being arranged in a central cooling chamber about which the gases pass. 